Saul said to David, You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. David said to Saul, Your servant was keeping his father's sheep; and when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after him, and struck him, and delivered it out of his mouth; and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and struck him, and killed him. Your servant struck both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God. 1 Samuel 17:34–36 WEB.

When David walked out on the battlefield to meet the giant Goliath, it wasn't the first time he had fought something big and scary. God had been preparing David for years while tending sheep, performing a common, everyday, typical job. Shepherding their father's sheep was a job that none of his brothers wanted to do. Out of the eight sons, only David was tending sheep on the day the prophet Samuel came to visit them. Some of his brothers were soldiers in the Israelite army (1Samuel 17:17).

While David protected his father's sheep, he learned to fight off lions and bears. Then God placed a giant in front of him. It didn't happen by accident, for God had trained David with bigger and bigger things to prepare him. Now it was his time to shine. David didn't start out facing giants. He started by tending sheep. God prepares you for his work ahead of time, sometimes using the most mundane things. Most of the time, we don't even know that He is training us.

I spent twenty years working on computer networks, mail servers, web servers, firewalls, and the supporting infrastructure. Then God pushed me into the ministry, and I used the things I learned then to build our online church here at Refreshing Hope Ministries. God is efficient, and He wastes nothing. He will use the skills He placed in your life to further His kingdom. He will use the world to train you for His work.

The common, everyday tasks you deal with daily are always preparing you for something bigger. The skills you develop in the natural can be used by Him. So do your best at whatever He has given you today, and when the time comes, you will be ready for the promotion just as David was. He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much (Luke 16:10).

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray that You let me see my life through Your eyes for a change. Please show me how I can make a difference and let me experience divine encounters in my life. Teach me, train me, and use me, Lord. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

Note: "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.” James 5:13 ~ If you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page: RHM Prayer Network. If you are interested in joining the prayer team, here is how to get started Prayer Partners.